Separating beauties from beasts

As another thank you to my regular Canadian readers, I have a surprise giveaway for you! (Edit: The giveaway is now closed. See bottom of post for the winner.)

What can you win? A December Topbox! See details at the bottom of this post.

What you see pictured is from the November Topbox, and that’s what I’ll be reviewing.

I was recently contacted by Topbox and asked if I would like to try out their November box. They also generously offered to provide the prize for this giveaway!

What is Topbox? It’s like the Canadian version of Birchbox (similar to the Loose Button Luxe Box that I previously blogged about).

So what’s the difference? Topbox sets themselves apart in terms of only providing top brands (hence their name) and minimalist packaging, which is environmentally friendly. You get 4 deluxe-sized samples each month for just $10 CAD. Shipping is free. (Edit: I just signed up to receive the February 2012 Topbox – found out that there’s tax, so in total, you’ll be paying $11.30 CAD.)

I was really excited to see it in person, and as I was opening the package for the first time, I was taking photos. At one point, I had to put my camera down because I was so ecstatic and couldn’t believe my eyes!

Allow me to go into further details. 🙂

November Topbox Pictures

The ‘box’ was actually a cylindrical tube that was covered with a piece of paper with an elegant print.

Closer look at the tube’s design

The end has a plastic lid that can be pulled off, but also reused.

Purple tissue paper conceals the goodies inside.

There they are!

Bottom of the tube had accordion-cut purple strips of paper. Thought this was a cool shot – like going down the rabbit’s hole in Alice in Wonderland.

I received a thank-you card!

Handwritten, personalized note

Front of the little booklet

Inside of the booklet

Shows all the products in the November Topbox. YES, two items are FULL-SIZE products! I was shocked! Also, did you notice that they spelled it as “Lippman” instead of “Lippmann”?

Coupon for 8000 Shoppers Optimum Points if you buy the full-size version of the Stila lip gloss in this month’s box from Shoppers Drug Mart

Stila Lip Glaze in Raspberry (Couldn’t find size listed on the tube, but it’s a decent size for a gloss.)

Close-up shot. It looks more yellow in my photo than in real life because I took this photo under artificial light. It’s really a pink polish. If I review and swatch it, you’ll get a better view of it on my blog. 🙂

Claims: TRUSTED

√ Contains 4 deluxe samples

√ Samples are from only premium brands

Key Notes

Name: Topbox (November edition)

What You Get in Each Month’s Box: 4 deluxe samples from premium brands

The name Topbox definitely gets the message across that they only offer premium brands. The logo uses a font that reminds me a lot of the same font used for America’s Next Top Model.

Packaging

Because of the name, I was literally expecting a box. When I got a tube in the mail, it was pretty cool because it’s different. The unique shape makes it stand out. Every other company sends out rectangular or square boxes, so this was something refreshing!

Because the tube is reuseable, I already know what I’m going to use it for. It’s going to be my new container to hold my coins!

Personalization

Although they don’t have personalized stickers and printed cards like Loose Button Luxe Box, you can still tell that Topbox went the extra mile. The thank-you card was handwritten and not printed, which shows great care in putting together the package. This really made it feel like a close friend had sent this to me and not a company who doesn’t know me. 🙂

The Products

You get 4 deluxe-sized samples normally, but in the November box, I was surprised that 2 out of 4 of them were actually full-sized products!

In fact, when I was snapping photos and unboxing everything, I took out the hand creme and thought, “Wow, that’s a generous size!” It was only after I opened everything that I read the card and realized it was a full-size product! Great value, and I was very curious about Cake Beauty’s products, so this was great! Now that winter’s coming, I needed a good hand creme to carry in my purse. (I’ll report my experience with this in a future review post!)

But what made me put down my camera was ultimately the full-sized Deborah Lippmann polish in Some Enchanted Evening! When I saw it, I literally exclaimed, “NO WAY!”

You see, before this, I only had a single Deborah Lippmann polish (because they’re pricey) – Across the Universe. So just imagine my shock and giddiness when I saw this baby! The way to my heart is through nail lacquer…

Now, if you’ve been following Swatch And Learn, you’ll know that I’m not a fan of pink polishes. I have nothing against them, but they’re just hard for me to wear. However, since Some Enchanted Evening is a glitter polish, the layering options are limitless! Even if it doesn’t blow my mind when worn solo, I can easily layer this over black or any other colour and use it as an accent to make it more wearable.

Based on the package I got, I must say that I was blown away by the value. Had I paid $10 CAD for this, the nail polish itself would’ve more than paid for it all! Now, I’m not sure if they regularly include full-sized items or not, but this month was superb value!

Product Brands

As I keep mentioning, Topbox prides itself on offering only prestigious brands. Some other brands they mention on their site include Benefit, Shu Uemura, Lise Watier, and SkinCeuticals.

Subscription Rates

To join Topbox, it costs $10 CAD per month to subscribe. If you want to cancel, their website says you can do so at any time by e-mailing them. There are no cancellation fees.

(Edit: I just signed up to receive the February 2012 Topbox – found out that there’s tax, so in total, you’ll be paying $11.30 CAD.)

Shipping

What I like about Topbox is that when they send out your package, they e-mail you with a tracking number so that you can track the package en route. You’ll have a better idea when to expect it, which I appreciate. Also, no signature is required for delivery.

Pros

Low monthly subscription price ($10 CAD) (Edit: I just signed up to receive the February 2012 Topbox – found out that there’s tax, so in total, you’ll be paying $11.30 CAD.)

Free shipping

You receive 4 deluxe-size samples (sometimes full-size samples!)

Great value – You receive only samples from premium brands

Environmentally friendly – minimal packaging

Cons

You don’t know what products you’ll get (but that may be a pro for you because it’s a nice surprise hopefully)

Final Verdict: 9.8/10

Overall, I really liked Topbox. While I appreciate personalization, I do like to pay more for quality-brand products. So, Topbox got a top score. The only reason I deducted a smidgeon was because of the randomness factor. You don’t know exactly what you’re getting. That’s fun, but sometimes it’s a gamble.

What do you think about Topbox? Were you as blown away as I was when you saw the full-size Deborah Lippmann polish? How do you think it compares to similar companies in the market?

*~* Surprise Giveaway for Canadians *~*

Edit: The giveaway is now closed.

And, finally, here’s the part that you’ve been waiting for! 😀

I love reading comments from you, and anyone can leave a comment below, not just those entering this giveaway.

Starts: Now

Ends: Sunday November 20 @ 12:59 pm (Eastern)

How to Enter:

If you’re Canadian and you do want to enter, though, please indicate somewhere in your comment that you would like to win a Topbox. That’s it – easy peasy!

(Please double-check that you’ve included your valid e-mail address in the comment form so that if you win, I can contact you. You may also want to add swatchandlearn@gmail.com to your Safe list so that should you win, my e-mail doesn’t land in the Spam folder by accident.)

You can leave as many comments as you want, but I will only put in one entry per person to make it fair for all.

I’ll use random.org to select a winner sometime on Monday November 21. I’ll e-mail the winner, and from the time I send my e-mail, the person has 72 hours to reply to me. If I don’t receive a reply, I’ll have to choose another winner, but I really don’t want to do that.

When the winner replies, I’ll forward your name and e-mail address to Topbox. At that point, they’ll send you a promo code to use on their website to redeem your free Topbox!

(They’ve told me that to receive the following month’s box, you need to put in your order by the last week of the month. They also sell out of their boxes pretty quickly, so it’s best to place the order once you get the promo code.)

And if you like Topbox, go ahead and “Like” them on their official Facebook page. (There’s a little “Like” button on their website.)

I’ll announce the winner on this post (in this section), on Twitter, and on Google+!

Good luck to everyone!

Edit:Congratuations, Lindsday!You’ve won the giveaway! I e-mailed you at 2:22 pm on Monday November 21st. Please reply to the e-mail within 72 hours to claim your prize.

that is so cool! I am considering signing up for it even if I don’t win just because I like the idea… (and the cylinder!)
*I would like to win a topbox*
haha, it would be even better if the box contained cult nails unicorn puke… sigh. i missed the boat on that one 🙁

Haha, oh my gosh! Can you imagine if it had Cult Nails Unicorn Puke? I’d go insane! 😛 Oh, but don’t sweat it! It’s coming back out under a different name in the upcoming Winter collection. You can still get the same colour. And in your mind, it’ll always be Unicorn Puke anyway. 🙂

I’m not sure if all their ‘boxes’ come in cylinders, but I hope so! Cool shape.

Wow, I can’t believe they gave a full sized DL polish! Her polish is so pretty but like you said pricey. I love the packaging- the pretty tube & personalized card is a nice touch.PinkGlitter recently posted: Butter London: Dressing Table Worthy

OMG this looks so much better than Glymm!!! I can’t believe there is a Cake Velveteen hand cream AND a Deborah Lippmann polish! I am signing up right away… but would love to win this one too (as a gift)! Your reviews are causing me to spend too much money lol, first the Cult Super Powers collection and now this lol 🙂

Hi Mary! Thanks for posting this and all your other reviews – I find them so helpful and informative. I’d LOVE to win a Topbox – now that you’ve reviewed two of the Canadian monthly boxes, I think I might go for this one… I also love that thìs one has such environmentally-friendly packaging! Thanks! 🙂

This box is pretty impressive, compared to the teeny sizes and the less-known brands I’ve seen in Loose Button and Glymm boxes. Hopefully every month you’ll get at least one full-size item, which makes the box pay for itself. I would love to win a Topbox, because I like getting presents in the mail!

That would be so awesome if every month’s box has at least one full-size item, but if they did that, haha, I don’t know how they’d stay in business. I think they might add the occasional full-size product, but maybe not every month. But, boy, if they do, AWESOME!

Can’t wait to see what you think of the Cake hand cream. I bought four of their hand creams and one foot lotion last year and really liked them. The Milk Made scent, eh, not so much… But the Desserted Island, It’s A Slice!, and Vanilla Snow have become favorites of mine, and I know you like vanilla like I do 😀Scrangie recently posted: Nails Inc. Special Effects 3D Glitter in Bloomsbury Square Swatches and Review

Okay, seriously? Hehe, I STILL get giddy every time you leave a comment on my blog. (It’s my whole huge girl crush on you, that’s all. 😛 Actually, I think yours was the first beauty blog I ever really got into and kept visiting all these years.)

I was too excited to try that hand creme. So far, I really like it, but I’ll need to try it out for longer to get a better feel for it. I’ll definitely be reviewing it. 🙂 Yay, my first cake product!

It’s good to know that you’ve been enjoying the ones you picked up. And yes, vanilla lovers, unite! 😀

Oh, wow. I’m so so so ecstatic to find out more about these monthly boxes and it’s always good to know that there’s a lot of different options now (glymm, topbox, loose button). I don’t know, maybe it’s the environmentalist in me, but I think I like this service better than the first one you featured. Could also be that SDM points coupon. XD

YEAH! I couldn’t believe my eyes. When I first opened up the tube and saw the Deborah Lippmann box, I only saw the top of it – the part with the sticker. I was freaking out and thought that maybe it was something like cuticle oil, but then when I pulled out the box, NO WAYYYY! And I’m treasuring it even more because this is only my 2nd Deborah Lippmann polish ever!

Good to know that the Stila glosses last a long time. So even this generous sample size should go a long way. 😀

Thanks so much for letting me know about this! I’m already subscribed to Glymm and Loose Button, and I just registered for Topbox after reading your review (I really shouldn’t be putting more things on my credit card, but I couldn’t help it after seeing that Deborah Lippmann nail polish you got! ;))

Aww…sometimes I feel guilty about enabling people. I hope that your finances are alright. Maybe go easier after the holidays? But, yeah, I know how you feel after seeing that polish – it’s a great incentive!

Okay, so you signed up already…I guess that means you don’t want to be entered to win a box? I didn’t see a “I want to win a Topbox” or some other indication. If you want to be entered and I misunderstood you, please reply to this comment and correct me. 🙂

Welcome to Swatch And Learn! 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment (two, even!). Hope you’ll stick around after this giveaway and keep in touch. I love hearing what my readers think, and I reply to every comment, so check back if you’re interested. 🙂

oh my GOODNESS! i hadn’t heard of topbox before, i’ve been getting glymm and luxe and i’m going to cancel one soon- and sign up for this one. full size deborah lippmann?????? i’m so jealous i could burst 😉

Before Topbox contacted me, I had never heard of them, either! And I don’t know how that was possible because my first experience blew me away. Really surprised that there isn’t more hype about this company.

Is it? Hehe, I always see Birch Box unboxings on YouTube and think it’s pretty cool.

Aww…I wish you could enter, too. But don’t worry – I’m going to try really hard in my next giveaway to include more people. This time and the previous time was for Canadians only just because I feel like oftentimes we miss out on a lot of cool stuff simply because a lot of companies/bloggers won’t ship to Canada.

I’m glad that you found my review informative. 🙂 And thank you about saying that about my photos. Lately my camera has been giving me a hard time (it needs to be replaced soon as it’s about 5 years old and some mechanics are breaking down), so it took me longer than usual to get all the shots I needed. But it’s all worth it! 😀

I’m bowing out of the contest – since I just won the Milani basket – but I did want to comment =)
Pictures of the November Topbox started popping up yesterday, and boy was I envious! I have received Glymm and Loose Button boxes, and none have been as fabulous as this. This is the best box I’ve seen!

That’s actually really nice of you to bow out even though you could’ve totally entered. Hehe, imagine if you won BOTH? Oh my – everyone would be jealous…even me! Hehehe! Thanks, though, for still wanting to leave a comment on this post. I love reading and replying to comments!

OKAYYY, that’s an amazing box/tube! Thanks for the review! 🙂
I want oneeeeeeeee! (so yes, I want to enter the giveaway hehehe)
The nail polish is simply amazing, that just convinced me to sign up, actually.

You’re most welcome! 🙂 I had a lot of fun reviewing it. And because I was photographing everything when I saw each item for the first time, it’s was really exciting…like I was doing one of those purchase reveals! 😀

Hey Mary!
I’m a Canadian and would like to enter.
I actually just ordered my first topbox the other day but since December’s box is sold out I will be waiting for January.

Also… I just wanted to let you know that I saw the Kardashian OPI collection at Shopper’s today. The display only had a few colours so maybe SDM is only having half the collection. Not sure of the whole thing but regardless I wanted to let you know I saw them there just this afternoon. Hope this helps!

Oh, thanks for letting me know. PR got back to me and said that they should all be available. But it takes some time for all the colours to filter through the stores. Keep checking. They should all show up. 🙂

HIIIII
*I would like to win a TopBox*
I wanna sign up for either the LooseButton Luxe Boxes or the TopBoxes. Which one do you recommend more for a teenager? Or should I just spoil myself and sign up for both 😀

I’ve only tried the October edition of the Luxe Box and the November edition of the Topbox, so I don’t have vast experience with either. If you’re trying to be frugal and can only sign up for one, though, based on just the two I did try, Topbox has an edge. Luxe Box is good, but Topbox blew me away with their November box! (Hehe, I’m sure you can tell!) If you’re lucky enough to be able to afford both, go for it! 😀

Hello! Great blog, just bookmarked it 😀
I would love to win a TopBox! I subscribe to both Glymm & Luxe, and just signed up for this, thanks for much for telling me it existed! (Too bad they are sold out until Feb!)

Glad to hear that you enjoyed Swatch And Learn so much that you bookmarked it. 🙂 I update it daily, so please do come back and check it out. I have lots of reviews, swatches, tutorials, and more to share.

Oh my! Thank you for this giveaway! Hooray for Canadians! 😀 I would love to win because all of the products look great! I think I would be as happy if I only got the nail polish. I’ve always wanted to try out Deborah Lippman but I thought it was just too expensive… Great pictures by the way, very detailed! Thank you!Jennifer recently posted: Lusting… for makeup!

You’re so welcome, and also thanks to Topbox for being so generous! 😀 It’s about time us Canadians had something really cool like this.

The giveaway is actually for the December Topbox, so what I showed in my November Topbox is different than the products you’ll get in December’s. But I’m willing to bet that the Topbox team will include some pretty awesome products in December’s!

Hi Mary. I would love to win a top box. I wouldn’t know about any of these boxes if I didn’t follow you. You are my first and only site I follow daily. First thing every morning, kids up, coffee and more coffee and then Swatch and Learn. Makes my day seeing all the goodies that I want to buy. I subscribe to glymm and loose button due to your info on them. Top box looks like better stuff. Was excited to see Dr Brandt ( which I love) and Deborah Lippmann in it. That’s what I want is stuff like this. Was dissapointed with gylmm. It shows high end products , but my first box was crappy. Annabelle and Lise watier in my opinion is crappy products. Never purchase those brands , I thought I would be getting more U.S products according to their ad. Oh well, it’s still a good buy. Again I love your site. My bank account, not so much. Heehee. Kelly.layton@me.com. Thks

Oh wow! Well, I’m glad to have introduced you to both Luxe Box and then to Topbox! 😀

And I take what you said totally to heart. Thank you very much. Do you know how flattered I feel that my blog is the first and only one you follow daily? It means a LOT to me because I really do spend a lot of time on Swatch And Learn (partially because it brings me a lot of joy, but also because I truly have the best followers!). Hehe, but sorry about your bank account. 😛

Sorry that you were disappointed by Gylmm. I’ve never tried that out yet. Maybe your first box was just a fluke and the ones after were better?

I never knew stila and cake were considered “premium brands”. To me, I think of Dior, Lancome, Guerlain..etc. Hmmm, but it’s awesome to see that deborah lippmann was included! Now that’s nice! I love the packaging too. It has the cutest pattern, and the tube would be perfect for storing stuff like make up brushes!

I was linked to your blog by Topbox on Twitter and I LOVE your review! I’m so obsessed with these monthly subscriptions (I subscribed to both Luxe Box by LooseButton and Glymm box) and after seeing the products your got from Topbox I really think that these boxes are better than Birch Box. A Deborah Lippmann nail polish? Are you kidding me? Usually when I get an Essie or China Glaze nail polish in a box I’m already pretty happy, Topbox really spoils their subscribers! Omg I would love to win a Topbox! Thank you for doing this review!

I’m so glad you did a review on this, I was looking into all the different ones and thinking of subscribing to one! Definitely considering subscribing to top box. As if there were full sized products in there, very impressed!!
– Chrissy

I would love to win a Topbox! 🙂
I can’t believe you got two full size products, especially the Deborah Lippmann polish! I am a glitter polish freak so I, too would have freaked out if that had been my box! Great post! Thanks a lot! 🙂

This box sounds amazing! I’m a member of Luxebox, but as of late, I’m not too impressed with it. I guess we need o put our order in now to hopefully receive Top Box sometime in the new year! I’d love to win this Dec box!! And I am Canadian!!

Omg Topbox seriously beats both luxe box n glymm box!! I’m subscribed to both already but I really hate luxe box’s packaging, I love how topbox comes in a stylish tube!:O.. I wanted to subscribe to topbox but I believe they are already sold out! So I hope I can win this awesome giveaway!, thank u do much for hosting this n thank u Topbox for providing the prices! 😀

You hate Luxe Box’s packaging? Really? I only got their October box, which is the sleek new black design, and I was highly impressed. It looks really chic, and I’m going to reuse it somehow because it’s really pretty.

Topbox is pretty cool having the tube! 🙂 Stands apart for sure. Hehe, maybe they should change their name to Toptube. 😛 But then it’d sound like a tube top. :S

You’re very welcome! I’ve entered your name in the draw. Best of luck!

Just found you on the Shabby Apple “deck the halls” pintrest site! I love makeup and have really enjoyed browzing your blog.
It would be great if you could count me in to the topbox give away.
Thanks
Marj

I would love to be entered to win a TopBox!
I’m so excited that Canada has something like the US birchbox! I’ve been wanting to try these subscription services for a while now, but I can never bring myself to do it 😛
Thanks for the giveaway, and good luck everyone! 🙂

Hey Mary!
I am drooling! The DL polish is so gorgeous. I can’t believe the *cylinder* is only $11.30. And I thought that the Loose Button Luxe Box was a great deal! I love that the Topbox is environmentally friendly. The Loose Button Luxe Box had so much packaging. I’d love to get the chance to win a box :] Even if I don’t win, I’m probably going to sign up for the box. It’s a steal!

I would love to win a TopBox! It looks like the best of the bunch – not really taken with the others, but this looks like nice brands, cute, smart packaging and good customer service – thanks for the review and for the contest!The Blossom Shed Beauty Blog recently posted: Friday Frock (on time as well!)

Wow, these are much better than some of the boxes I have seen online. Most of them retail for like $40 canadian. I love your blog, I’ve been reading it for a while now and I would LOVE to win a top box

Wow, you’ve seen boxes that retail for $40? Yeah, that’s too expensive for samples. The price is right with Topbox.

I’m SO GLAD to hear that you love Swatch And Learn! 😀 And I appreciate that you’ve been reading for a while. Hope you continue to stick around and leave comments occasionally. 🙂 I love interacting with my readers!

I would live to be entered to win the Topbox!
I cannot believe they put a full sized Deborah Lippmann nail polish *die*. I have a few and I just love them, but they’re so pricey.
Keep up the awesome reviews! Love checking out the site 🙂

Loved seeing what you got in your topbox and would love to win one as they are now sold out until March! I have been subscribing to Luxe Box and Glymm for the past three months and just cancelled my Luxe box. I always seem to be disappointed with it compared to Glymm and now it looks loike Top Box could move to being my first choice.

Thanks Mary. Hopefully you will enjoy your Luxe box. If it were the only game in town, I would have kept it because I love the surprise factor and trying out new things but the products I have seen from topbox and the ones I have received from Glymm are just more to my liking.

I would like to win a Topbox! I’ve never heard of them before so I will be checking out their website, the products they represent are great! Thanks for all your swatches; I just discovered your site a couple weeks ago and have been busy reading it all!

Stumbled across your site and this review while looking for thoughts on TopBox.
I just got a Subscription Offer and this review / items pictured in the box made me decide to go for it!
Thanks for the information.
I am excited for my first TopBox 🙂